Hi everyone, I was invited to participate in a little Email interview for NFReads.com. Since exposure and publicity is a a good thing for an author I was excited and eager to participate,
So without further ado, let’s get started:
Please introduce yourself and your book(s)!
My name is Vanessa Ravencroft and I am the author of the Galactic Chronicles series, I wanted to tell story of human kind with respect to a universe full of other sentient species and societies. From the first humans competing with Neanderthal hominids to a far distant future, where Earth’s humanity is just a small part of a gigantic mega society. I wanted to recapture the feeling and taste of the magnificent Space-Operas that I loved so much growing up. Eric Olafson, Midshipman, Space Pirate and Black Velvet are available in eBook and in printed form on Amazon, Barns and Nobles and pretty much everywhere they sell books.
Many of my novels are available for free at Storiesonline.net.
I am also on Patreon.com where I publish new stories chapter by chapter. I have to say, Patreon works great, and my reader audience is growing every month.
My mother smuggled cigarettes from the American to the French zone in occupied Germany. My father a GI caught her, fell in love and the result was me, born in Galveston, TX.
I grew up in Germany, Texas, Alaska and Switzerland. I studied physics in Heidelberg, Germany. Was one of the first female apprentices at Heckler & Koch to become a ‘journeyman’ Gunsmith (Buechsenmacher )
I served with the United States Marines
What is/are the real-life story(ies) behind your book(s)?
While there aren’t real-life stories behind my science fiction stories. There are real-life characters behind all my fictional ones. I travelled the world many times over and all the impressions I gathered flow into my stories. My crime and suspense stories are almost always inspired by a real event or crime.
What inspires/inspired your creativity?
Everything! A picture, a scene, an anecdote. I once was inspired to write seeing a piece of rope, a broken beer bottle, the shape of a cloud or a bush.
How do you deal with creative block?
Never had writer’s block, rather the opposite. Never enough time to write all the stories I have in my mind.
What are the biggest mistakes you can make in a book?
Not finish it. Reading or writing one
Do you have tips on choosing titles and covers?
I had no input for the artwork of my books in print. I think the artwork should reflect aspects of the story.
How do bad reviews and negative feedback affect you and how do you deal with them?
If the review is bad or negative reflecting on the content. I try to see the person’s view point. No matter how bad, the other person invested time in reading and writing a review. There is always something you can learn.
If at all possible, I try to open a dialog and try to understand what caused the negative review. I think they help to improve and grow as a writer.
If the review is a profanity laden attack on me, rather than the story, I ignore it.
How has your creation process improved over time?
It keeps improving and I don’t think I will ever stop improving my craft as a writer. Language evolves, viewpoints and perception to things evolve and change.
What were the best, worst and most surprising things you encountered during the entire process of completing your book(s)?
The best part is to actually have the time and mindset to write. The worst is realizing what a sloppy, irritable recluse I am when writing.
Do you tend towards personal satisfaction or aim to serve your readers? Do you balance the two and how?
To me this is one and the same thing. If my readers find the time to comment, tell me what they like and what they don’t like is central to my creative process.
What role do emotions play in creativity?
Emotions are what causes writing and stories are just a vehicle to convey them. I feel the emotions of my characters and if a reader tells me he had a similar emotion when reading it, I know my character has come alive.
Do you have any creativity tricks?
Coffee and cigarettes
What are your plans for future books?
I want to publish the entire Galactic Chronicles (54 books)
Tell us some quirky facts about yourself
I don’t fit in any box. I am equally at home in a Lamborghini or a Case Quad Track. Going to a gala party dolled up to the nines. Or having a beer with friends around a bon fire by the river and far from anything.
Well that seems to be the extent of the questions.
Simply type my name into Google and you will get all the links.
Vanessa Ravencroft
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16124730.Vanessa_Ravencroft
https://www.facebook.com/ravencroftvanessa/
https://www.amazon.com/Vanessa-Ravencroft/e/B06XKL3BFQ
https://galnet.fandom.com/wiki/Vanessa_Ravencroft
https://www.patreon.com/vanessaravencroft
https://www.gofundme.com/f/galactic-chronicles-needs-editing
https://galnet.fandom.com/wiki/Galnet_Data_Base
Twitter: @VanessaRaven